diff --git a/dlls/ntdll/unix/sync.c b/dlls/ntdll/unix/sync.c
index ed30388b026..dd08632e21c 100644
--- a/dlls/ntdll/unix/sync.c
+++ b/dlls/ntdll/unix/sync.c
@@ -272,7 +272,6 @@ NTSTATUS WINAPI NtCreateSemaphore( HANDLE *handle, ACCESS_MASK access, const OBJ
 
     *handle = 0;
     if (max <= 0 || initial < 0 || initial > max) return STATUS_INVALID_PARAMETER;
-    if ((ret = alloc_object_attributes( attr, &objattr, &len ))) return ret;
 
     if (do_fsync())
         return fsync_create_semaphore( handle, access, attr, initial, max );
@@ -280,6 +279,8 @@ NTSTATUS WINAPI NtCreateSemaphore( HANDLE *handle, ACCESS_MASK access, const OBJ
     if (do_esync())
         return esync_create_semaphore( handle, access, attr, initial, max );
 
+    if ((ret = alloc_object_attributes( attr, &objattr, &len ))) return ret;
+
     SERVER_START_REQ( create_semaphore )
     {
         req->access  = access;